By Hon.Charles Bakkabulindi
Codes of conduct are the main
tools to regulate workers’
rights for added value
chain; workers’ rights encompass
a large array of human rights
from the right to decent work and
freedom of association to equal
opportunity and protection against
discrimination.
Specific rights related to the
worker place include health and
safety in the work place and the
right to privacy at work.
Everyone has a right to the
opportunity to gain his living by
work which he/she freely choose or
accepts, the right to the enjoyment
of just and favorable conditions in
particular remuneration for work
of minimum with fair wages and
equal remuneration for work of
equal value and a decent living for
themselves and their families is a
requisite
Workers are entitled to safe and
healthy working conditions, equal
opportunity for everyone to be
promoted in his/ her employment
to an appropriate higher level,
subject to no consideration other
than those of seniority and
competence
The code of discipline and
conduct communicates to
the employees, the expected
behavior and the professional
responsibilities. The significance
of code of conduct is that each
employee should behave and
perform in a way that preserves
the company values and
commitments.
The code expects employees to
conduct business with integrity
and honesty. Moreover, it expects
the employer to be an equal
opportunity employer.
The Code of Ethics for Trade
Union policy of a company
is determined on the basis of
following factors:
Honesty and integrity:
The organization expects the
employees to observe honesty
and integrity and such conduct
should be fair and transparent.
The employees should show
truthfulness in actions throughout
their tenure in the organization.
Disclosure of information:
The employees should not
disclose the company information
to third parties and others outside
organizations. However the
employers should reveal the
various policies of the organization
to their employees and make them
aware about the code of conduct
and other policies.
Harassment:
The work environment should be
free from all kinds of harassment,
especially sexual harassment and
verbal harassment. No physical
harassment like hitting or
pushing are acceptable on part of
employees.
Outside employment:
Employees should not indulge
in to any kind of concurrent
employment without the prior
knowledge of employer.
Conflict of interest:
An employee should not indulge
into other professions or services
or other interests which might
conflict with the interest of the
company. This means personal
interests should not overshadow
organizational interests.
Confidentiality:
Employees should protect
company’s confidential
information. The financial records
and unpublished data should be
kept within the organizations and
should not be spread outside the
organization.
Equal opportunity employer:
This factor expects the employer
to be an equal opportunity, that
is, no discrimination should be
done on the basis of caste, color,
race, gender, religion or physical
disabilities.
Misusing company resources:
Employees should not misuse
company resources, intellectual
property, time and other facilities.
They are provided to them for
business purposes and thus,
should be used in a cost effective
way.
Health and safety:
An employer should provide a
safe and healthy work environment
to its employees. Proper cleanliness
and lightening should be provided.
A health and safety committee
can be set up by the employer
consisting of representatives of
workers as well.
Payment and gifts:
The employees should neither
accept nor offer any kind of
illegal payments, donations,
remuneration and gifts from
outsiders.
About the Author: Hon Charles
Bakkabulindi is Member of
Parliament representing Workers■
